Take the Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Quiz
If you notice you feel depressed when the seasons change, you may have
seasonal affective disorder (SAD). This condition is marked by times of depression
during certain seasons. This is followed by times of normal or high mood the rest
of the
year. Take this quiz to learn more.
1. People with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) feel depressed
only during the winter.
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People
with SAD have depression during a certain season of the year. Most people with
SAD
are depressed during the fall and winter months. Less often, other people with
SAD
are depressed during the spring and summer. This form is sometimes called reverse
SAD or summer SAD. The symptoms can range from mild to so severe that they interfere
with daily functioning.
2. People assigned female at birth and teens are more likely
to develop SAD than others.
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SAD
can affect anyone. But people assigned female at birth, teens, and young adults
seem
more likely to get it. People with SAD also tend to have a family member with
mental
illness, such as depression or alcohol abuse. To be diagnosed with SAD, a person
must have symptoms of depression that occur during certain seasons for at least
2
years.
3. SAD can be hard to diagnose because its symptoms are like those of other illnesses.
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The symptoms of SAD can be confused with symptoms of other illnesses. These include
hypothyroidism and viral infections such as mononucleosis.
4. The hormone estrogen may play a role in SAD.
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Changing
levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin may play a role in SAD. The sleep hormone
melatonin may also play a role. Melatonin has been linked to depression. The body
makes more melatonin in the dark. So the shorter, grayer days of winter boost
levels
of melatonin. Many people with SAD have low levels of vitamin D and use nutritional
supplements. Vitamin D supplements have shown mixed results in treating SAD.
5. SAD is more common in northern parts of the world.
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SAD is
more common in people who live farther from the equator. Overcast days also make
a
person with SAD feel worse.
6. One symptom of summer SAD is weight loss.
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Other
symptoms of summer SAD include sleeping problems, anxiety, restlessness, and
poor
appetite. For those with winter SAD, symptoms include feeling "blue" during the
fall
and winter, a craving for sugary or starchy foods, irritability, trouble focusing,
anxiety, weight gain, and oversleeping.
7. A good way to feel better when you have winter SAD is to get outdoors every day.
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Getting
outdoors regularly will let you get more sunlight. This can help prevent SAD and
improve your symptoms. You can also move your furniture and window drapes around
during the fall and winter to let as much sunlight through windows as possible.
8. SAD treatment often starts with light therapy.
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Light
therapy means using a full-spectrum fluorescent light from a special SAD lamp.
You
use the lamp for a certain amount of time, often for 20 to 45 minutes a day in
the
morning. Your healthcare providers will tell you the amount of time needed. They
may
also prescribe medicines or talk therapy (often cognitive behaviortherapy or CBT)
along with the light therapy. Treatment is started in the fall, before symptoms
begin. Treatment is slowly stopped in the spring.
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